Attendance at Baskerville School

Meet Our Attendance Lead

We are pleased to introduce Areanna Daley, Attendance Lead at Baskerville School. Areanna works closely with pupils, families, and staff to support strong attendance and ensure every child has the best possible chance to succeed.

Attendance is not about blame — it’s about support, early action, and working together.

Why Attendance Matters

As a special school, we understand that some pupils face complex challenges that can affect attendance. At the same time, regular attendance plays a key role in:

Academic progress
Social development
Emotional well-being
Feeling secure and included at school

Research consistently shows that pupils who attend regularly achieve better outcomes and are happier at school. Our aim is to support families while maintaining high expectations for every pupil

Our Attendance Approach

Our approach is supportive, consistent, and fair. The Attendance Lead will:

Monitor attendance patterns and identify concerns early
Work with families to understand barriers to attendance
Offer support and signpost to relevant services
Celebrate improvements and positive attendance
Apply the school’s attendance policy consistently
We work with families — not against them.

What Good Attendance Looks Like

Excellent: 97% and above
Good: 95–96%
Requires improvement: 90–94%
Persistent absence: Below 90%
Severe absence: Below 50%

Our target is at least 95% attendance for every pupil. This means no more than 10 days missed across the school year.

How Families Can Support Attendance

You can help by:

Establishing consistent bedtime and morning routines
Contacting the school office on the first day of absence before 9:30am
Planning medical and dental appointments outside school hours where possible
Taking holidays during school breaks (term-time holidays are only authorised in exceptional circumstances)
Speaking positively about school and learning
Contacting us early if your child is anxious or reluctant to attend

Small changes early on prevent bigger problems later.

Our Support Promise

If attendance drops below expectations, we will:

Contact you to understand concerns and barriers
Offer support and referrals where appropriate
Create an attendance improvement plan together
Monitor progress and celebrate improvements
Provide early help before concerns escalate
The goal is always improvement — not punishment.

When Formal Action May Be Taken

Formal steps are a last resort. If attendance does not improve despite support, or engagement is limited, we may:

Issue formal warning letters
Hold attendance meetings
Refer to the Local Authority
Consider legal interventions such as penalty notices

We are always clear, transparent, and focused on the child’s best interests.

Celebrating Good Attendance

We believe in recognising success. This may include:

Certificates for pupils achieving 95% attendance or above
Recognition in assemblies
Positive postcards home
Termly celebration events for excellent attendance

Attendance improvements matter — and we notice them.

Working Together

Every day in school counts. By working together, we can ensure every pupil at Baskerville School has the opportunity to thrive — academically, socially, and emotionally.